EASILY recognisable by their shaved hair, Dr Martens boots and smart shirts, mass gatherings of skinheads were a regular sight in Southend throughout the Seventies and Eighties.

The subculture first emerged among working class youngsters in London in the Sixties, as a rejection of the decade's dominant theme of "peace and love".

It experienced a revival in the late Seventies and early Eighties, which was largely associated with post-punk, ska and soul music.

Skinheads regularly travelled in packs, and their gatherings often resulted in intimidation and the threat of violence.

Bank holiday weekends would often see groups descend on Southend, with a heavy police presence on the seafront in an attempt to defuse tension and prevent skirmishes with rival groups.

But, as these pictures from the Echo archives show, some of those who attended the meetings were good-humoured and peaceful.

Do you have any memories or pictures from the past you'd like to share with our readers? Email echonews@nqe.com.